In a bold decision, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has stopped Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. This decision affects more than a quarter of the university’s student population. It also shows a serious conflict between Trump and one of the most respected universities in the country.
Trump says Harvard refused to follow the government’s rules. He claims the university allows an unsafe campus for Jewish students and supports radical views. Trump is angry with Harvard for not agreeing to his request for oversight of the school’s hiring and admissions. He accuses the university of being a centre for anti-Semitism and “woke” liberal ideas.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a letter to Harvard, “Effective immediately, Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor (SEVIS) Programme certification is revoked.” The SEVIS system is what allows foreign students to study in the U.S.
Last month, Trump warned Harvard that it could lose the ability to enrol foreign students if it did not meet the government’s demands. These demands would place the private university under political supervision.
Noem wrote, “As I explained to you in my April letter, it is a privilege to enrol foreign students. All universities must comply with Department of Homeland Security requirements, including reporting requirements under the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme regulations, to maintain this privilege.”
She added, “As a result of your refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ policies, you have lost this privilege.”
In the 2024–25 academic year, over 27 percent of Harvard’s students were from other countries, according to university data.
Harvard has not yet responded to requests for comment.
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